Rue de Siam

The "rue de Siam" or Siam Street is the main arterial street of Brest. Its name comes from the arrival of three ambassadors led by Kosa Pan, sent by the King of Siam on the 29th of June 1686 to meet Louis XIV in Versailles. They went with six mandarins, three translators, two secretaries and a score of domestics, loaded of presents. They traveled on the boats "l'Oiseau " and " la Maligne".

They crossed Saint-Pierre Street to go to the hostel of the same name. The inhabitants were so amazed that they renamed the street. It is worth noting that the street was a quite narrow street before World War II.

The "rue de Siam" is quoted by Jacques Prévert in his poem "Barbara".

Reputation

The "rue de Siam" is well known among sailors from all over the world. Those who call at Brest at least once, remember this short name, easy-minded, all there lives long. If you ply along African coasts, it is not rare to meet Bretons, harbour masters, local employees, sent far away from their native Brest, recalling the "rue de Siam" like others the Eiffel Tower or the Acropolis

Recent history

From the "place de la Liberté", in the centre of Brest, the "rue de Siam" runs southwest to the Recouvrance Bridge, spanning the river Penfeld. Recouvrance is a working-class district, from old Brest, in contrast to the "rue de Siam" where there were all the chic stores and cafés of Brest, in the years 1950-60. Dow to the "rue de Siam", there used to be "l’Epée" Café on the right and "Les Antilles" Restaurant on the left. Midshipmen and officers from all nationalities used to have an aperitif at "l’Epée" and then, cross the "rue de Siam" to have supper at "Les Antilles".

ee also

*France-Thailand relations

References

External links

* [http://perso.orange.fr/alain.liscoet/rue_de_siaman.htm "Rue de Siam" in 1900]
* [http://www.mairie-brest.fr/pano/medias/visite/rue_de_siam.htm panoramic view of the "Rue de Siam"]